49–006 

113TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 113–697 

SCHOOL DISTRICT 318 LAND EXCHANGE ACT 

DECEMBER 22, 2014.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington, from the Committee on Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 4220] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 4220) to authorize the exchange of certain Federal land 

and non-Federal land in the State of Minnesota, having considered 

the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 4220 is to authorize the exchange of certain 

Federal land and non-Federal land in the State of Minnesota. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

H.R. 4220 provides for an equal value land exchange in Grand 

Rapids, Minnesota. The bill would convey 1.3 acres of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) land in exchange for 1.6 acres of land from the 

Minnesota Independent School District Number 318, including all 

structures currently occupying the properties. 

The federal parcel adjoins Robert J. Elkington Middle School and 

is used to store equipment and vehicles. Its proximity to the campus, as well as the security fencing, make it suitable for management by the School District. The non-federal land to be exchanged 

is closer to the USGS Minnesota Water Science Center and has 

better access to that facility. School District 318 and the USGS 

have discussed exchanging these parcels of land for over a decade, 

and this legislation will finally resolve this matter. 


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COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 4220 was introduced on March 12, 2014, by Congressman 

Richard Nolan (D–MN). The bill was referred to the Committee on 

Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittees on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation and Energy 

and Mineral Resources. On November 19, 2014, the Full Natural 

Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittees 

on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation and Energy and 

Mineral Resources were discharged by unanimous consent. No 

amendments were offered, and the bill was adopted and ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous 

consent. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 

Natural Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of 

the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(2)(B) of that rule provides 

that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Under clause 

3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 

section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate for this bill from the 

Director of the Congressional Budget Office: 

H.R. 4220—School District 318 Land Exchange Act 

H.R. 4220 would require the United States Geological Survey 

(USGS) to exchange, at the request of a school district in Minnesota, 1.3 acres of federal land for 1.6 acres of land owned by the 

district. Under the bill, if the value of the federal land exceeds the 

value of the lands owned by the district, the district would be required to make a cash payment to USGS to make up the difference. 

Based on information regarding the cost of conducting similar 

land exchanges and assuming the availability of appropriated 

funds, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost 

less than $20,000. CBO also estimates that enacting the legislation 

would increase offsetting receipts, which are treated as reductions 

in direct spending; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. However, we estimate that any increase in offsetting receipts under the 

bill would total less than $10,000. Enacting H.R. 4220 would not 

affect revenues. 

Formal appraisals of the properties that are the subject of this 

legislation have not been completed. Based on information regarding the value of similar parcels, CBO estimates that the affected 

land has values between $15,000 and $25,000. The parcel owned by 

the USGS contains a large machine shed. Based on information 


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from the USGS regarding the age and condition of the shed, we estimate that the total value of the federal property would exceed the 

value of the land owned by the district by less than $10,000. 

H.R. 4220 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

benefit a school district in Minnesota. Any costs to the district resulting from the land exchange would be incurred voluntarily. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Jeff LaFave. This estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

2. Section 308(a) of Congressional Budget Act. As required by 

clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, 

this bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or 

tax expenditures. Based on information regarding the cost of conducting similar land exchanges and assuming the availability of appropriated funds, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation 

would cost less than $20,000. CBO also estimates that enacting the 

legislation would increase offsetting receipts, which are treated as 

reductions in direct spending; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures 

apply. However, CBO estimates that any increase in offsetting receipts under the bill would total less than $10,000. 

3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 

clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or objective 

of this bill is to authorize the exchange of certain Federal land and 

non-Federal land in the State of Minnesota. 

EARMARK STATEMENT

This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined under clause 9(e), 

9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4

This bill contains no unfunded mandates. 

COMPLIANCE WITH H. RES. 5

Directed Rule Making. The Chairman does not believe that this 

bill directs any executive branch official to conduct any specific 

rule-making proceedings. 

Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not establish or 

reauthorize a program of the federal government known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was not included in 

any report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress 

pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111–139 or identified in the 

most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program Information Act (Public Law 95–220, 

as amended by Public Law 98–169) as relating to other programs. 

PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or tribal law. 


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CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing law. 

Æ 


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